Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) celebrates a touchdown as the University of Tennessee plays Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl during the second half
Friday Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, FL
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Tennessee defensive back Cameron Sutton (23) knocks away a pass intended for Iowa's Tevaun Smith (4) as the University of Tennessee plays Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl during the second half
Friday Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, FL
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Everyone scrambles for a Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) fumble that Tennessee eventually recovered as the University of Tennessee plays Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl during the second half
Friday Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, FL
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Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) looks for an opening as the University of Tennessee plays Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl during the second half
Friday Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, FL
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Iowa running back Jordan Canzeri (33) his clear to run as the University of Tennessee plays Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl during the second half
Friday Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, FL
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Tennessee running back Marlin Lane (15) runs around the end as the University of Tennessee plays Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl during the second half
Friday Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, FL
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Tennessee head coach Butch Jones sends instructions to his players as the University of Tennessee plays Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl during the second half
Friday Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, FL
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Head coach Butch Jones of the Tennessee Volunteers poses with the championship trophy following the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28.
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Tennessee Volunteers players celebrate following the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28.
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Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz talks to referees in the fourth quarter of their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl game against the Tennessee Volunteers at EverBank Field. The gash over Ferentz's right eyebrow is from a hit from a helmet on a play that went out-of-bounds on the first series of the game. The Tennessee Volunteers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28.
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa Hawkeyes offensive graduate assistant DJ Hernandez reacts after the Hawkeyes lost possession on a fumble in the third quarter of their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl game against the Tennessee Volunteers at EverBank Field. The Tennessee Volunteers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28.
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz in the fourth quarter of their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl game against the Tennessee Volunteers at EverBank Field. The gash over Ferentz's right eyebrow is from a hit from a helmet on a play that went out-of-bounds on the first series of the game. The Tennessee Volunteers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28.
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz in the fourth quarter of their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl game against the Tennessee Volunteers at EverBank Field. The gash over Ferentz's right eyebrow is from a hit from a helmet on a play that went out-of-bounds on the first series of the game. The Tennessee Volunteers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28.
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Parker #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs for yardage during the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Tennessee Volunteers at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida
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Jordan Canzeri #33 of the Iowa Hawkeyes is tackled by Emmanuel Moseley #12 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida.
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Tennessee wide receiver Vic Wharton (4) knows he has the touchdown after a trick play in the first half as theUniversity of Tennessee plays Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl
Friday Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, FL
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Tennessee wide receiver Vic Wharton (4) celebrates his touchdown after a trick play as theUniversity of Tennessee plays Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl during the first half
Friday Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, FL
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Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd (1) celebrates his touchdown with his teammates as theUniversity of Tennessee plays Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl during the first half
Friday Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, FL
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Tennessee wide receiver Von Pearson (9) looks for open field as theUniversity of Tennessee plays Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl during the first half
Friday Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, FL
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Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Greg Mabin (13) reacts after Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Vic Wharton (rear) celebrates with tight end Ethan Wolf (82) after running for a 49-yard touchdown after catching a pass in the first quarter of their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl game at EverBank Field.
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

UT fans had something to dance about after scoring multiple touchdowns in the first half where as the Iowa fans weren't cheering about much as theUniversity of Tennessee plays Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl during the first half
Friday Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, FL
Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEAN

Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Vic Wharton (4) runs for a 49-yard touchdown after catching a pass in the first quarter of their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field.
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

C.J. Beathard #16 of the Iowa Hawkeyes attempts a pass during the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Tennessee Volunteers at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida.
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Joshua Dobbs #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers attempts a pass during the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida
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Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Vic Wharton (4) celebrates with tight end Ethan Wolf (82) after scoring a 49-yard touchdown on a pass reception in the first quarter of their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field.
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Von Pearson #9 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs past Maurice Fleming #28 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida.
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Cameron Sutton #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs past Dalton Ferguson #76 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida.
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Von Pearson #9 of the Tennessee Volunteers rushes for yardage during the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida.
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Vic Wharton #4 of the Tennessee Volunteers makes a reception during the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida.
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Vic Wharton #4 of the Tennessee Volunteers crosses the goal line for a touchdown during the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida.
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Curt Maggitt #56 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates a defensive stop during the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida.
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Cameron Sutton #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs past Dalton Ferguson #76 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida
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Iowa Hawkeyes running back Jordan Canzeri (33) dives for extra yardage as he is tripped up by Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (34) in the first quarter of their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field.
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones celebrates a fourth-down stop of the Iowa Hawkeyes offense in the first quarter of their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl game at EverBank Field.
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Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones (right) discusses a call with a referee in the first quarter of their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field.
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee and Iowa players and officials watch as NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes the coin toss in the center of the field at the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field.
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NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. walks away from his #88 car as he brings the coin to toss to the center of the field at the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl between Tennessee and Iowa at EverBank Field.
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee Volunteers team members including linebacker/defensive lineman Curt Maggitt and defensive quality control coach Chase Gibson and tight end Ethan Wolf make their way through fans to the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field.
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Iowa fans hoping for some fresh football theater to begin 2015 instead got stuck with the same unwatchable reruns.

A sloppy defensive performance full of missed tackles and follies buried the Hawkeyes in a 45-28 loss to Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Bowl before 56,310 mostly-dressed-in-orange fans at EverBank Field.

Two touchdown passes from C.J. Beathard in the final 3 minutes, 30 seconds helped Iowa avoid the worst bowl loss in the Kirk Ferentz era (previously 21 points in the 2003 Orange Bowl).

Iowa finished 7-6, having lost four of their last five games, capped by a loss against a team that went 3-5 in the Southeastern Conference.

"It was a team loss," Ferentz said. "It usually is when you lose."

Ferentz told us that studying film of this Tennessee team triggered memories of Maryland and Minnesota. Those teams diced up the Hawkeyes with their read-option running games to the tune of 89 points in their two ugliest Big Ten Conference losses.

But instead of improved defensive execution, it was more of the same against the Volunteers, who had 28 points before they even faced their first third down midway through the second quarter.

Against the read-option, outside linebacker play is essential. One of those, Josey Jewell, said the game plan wasn't much different than the Maryland (38-31) and Minnesota (51-14) losses. Neither were the results.

"We lost contain a lot of the time," Jewell said. "We didn't pursue to the ball like we should've."

The other outside linebacker, Bo Bower, gave a simpler explanation.

"I don't feel like we showed up today," said Bower, who was replaced by true freshman Ben Niemann in the second half. "We practiced our butts off all week. We just didn't show."

Tennessee's first drive illustrated the defensive debacle that was ahead. On the Vols' second play, freshman running back Jalen Hurd broke loose from linebacker Bo Bower and sprinted up the left sideline. It would be a long day for Bower. More on that later.

At the end of his 25-yard gain, cornerback Desmond King crashed into Ferentz – creating a gash above the 16th-year head coach's right eye.

That was emblematic of the day: A blown defensive play, followed by pain.

Hurd capped Tennessee's opening drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to put Iowa in a quick 7-0 hole.

True to its word, Iowa rotated quarterbacks in the first half, and Beathard took the Hawkeyes into Tennessee territory on their second drive, but Mark Weisman was stuffed on fourth-and-1 at Tennessee's 33.